Sharkoon X-Tatic Pro 5.1 Dolby Digital Headset

Sharkoon launched their X-Tatic Pro which is a new high-end gaming headset with 5.1 Dolby Digital support. The headset has a total of eight speakers, each cup has a 27mm center speaker, a 30mm front speaker, a 30mm rear speaker plus a 40mm subwoofer. Channel volume, master volume and chat volume can be regulated with the integrated controller, which also offers a microphone mute button and a MVM selector switch (to hear your voice within chat and better control your own speech volume).

Included in the bundle is a Sound Control Unit (SCU), it integrated the Dolby Digital decoder and has various connection options. The Sharkoon X-Tatic Pro is now available in retail stores for 149.90EUR.Sharkoon presents the successor to their "X-Tatic Digital" 5.1 Dolby Digital headset series: The Sharkoon X-Tatic Pro comes with an improved design, more connectivity options and an additional Microphone Voice Monitoring (MVM) feature.

Designed to meet the needs of Gamers, the Sharkoon X-Tatic Pro delivers its full functional range to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 gaming consoles. With Dolby Digital decoder and Chat support, it provides optimal gaming sound with realistic 3D tone and spatial sound location on both platforms. With its Sound Control Unit (SCU) and associated cables the Sharkoon X-Tatic Pro can also be connected to other sound sources like PCs, Tablet PCs, surround sound speaker systems or DVD players.

A total of eight speakers deliver the native 5.1 sound of the X-Tatic Pro. Each ear cup has a 27 mm center speaker, a 30 mm front and a 30 mm rear speaker plus a 40 mm subwoofer. The impedance of the headset is 32 ohms. All channel volume, master volume, and the chat volume can be regulated separately through the integrated controller. The inline controller is equipped with a microphone mute and MVM selector switch. By activating the MVM function, the user will be able to hear their voice within chat and better control their own speech volume. The cable controller also has a built-in clip which fastens to your shirt and allows easy access. The comfortably padded headband as well as the ear encircling, vertically and horizontally swiveling ear cups, the flexible and detachable microphone plus the 410 cm long head set cable ensure a high level of user comfort. The headset weighs around 350 grams.

The heart of the Sharkoon X-Tatic Pro is the Sound Control Unit (SCU) with Dolby Digital decoder and various connection options. The cable of the headset opens into a 9-pin mini DIN connector. The SCU provides two G9 jacks, so that a second headset can be simultaneously connected. The decoder chip of the SCU supports the Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 digital sound standard, and in addition the analog encoding format Dolby Pro Logic II. The switchable "Dolby Pro Logic II" function decodes 5.1 Sound from incoming stereo signals.

To connect analog and digital sound sources a 3.5 mm jack, a coaxial and S/PDIF input is available; to connect an active 5.1 speaker system or headphone the three required analog 5.1 channel outputs are provided.

A new feature on the "X-Tatic Pro" version is the optical S/PDIF output on the SCU, which allows looping coaxial digital or optical digital audio signals to other devices (audio passthrough). For example, an additional optical cable can be connected parallel to an amplifier on the SCU. Users who want to occasionally enjoy headphone-free sound without complex wiring just need to simply turn-on its amplifier.

Included with the Sharkoon X-Tatic Pro is an optical S/PDIF connection cable, a coaxial connection cable, a 3.5 mm analog connection cable, a USB microphone cable for PS3 and PC, a Chat cable for Xbox360, a power supply with EU, UK, and US country adapters and a manual.